Most goods made in China have to be purchased 3 to 4 times to last as long as American goods. So, you think you are saving money by buying Chinese made goods, the answer is no.

As a consumer you should insist on products made in the USA, it is better quality, it retains and creates jobs in the U.S. while keeping the economy going and produces revenues for the government which enables them to provide services to its population.

Producing goods and services in the U.S. is Creating and Sustaining Successful Growth.

Many foreigners make millions exporting products from China to the USA. An American businessman was trying to export products from the USA to China.

He found it impossible. And this is why our country the USA is failing. It is because we allow this unfairness. Many Americans are tired of paying for the infrastructure so the Chinese can sell their wares virtually tax free in the USA and Americans are paying for the roads and everything else to make that possible.

The Great Society is a place where every child can find knowledge to enrich his mind and to enlarge his talents. It is a place where the city of man serves not only the needs of the body and the demands of commerce but the desire for beauty and the hunger for community. It is a place where men are more concerned with the quality of their goals than the quantity of their goods.”

The U.S. and the city of Los Angeles economy could expedite its economic revival by accelerating its hydrocarbon exploration and development. A national policy to enhance the development of hydrocarbon will turn the U.S. into a net exporter of hydrocarbon products. The U.S. must also build additional refining capacity at strategic locations in the U.S. to alleviate fuel shortages and increase its export of refined fuel and natural gas. Allocating a percentage of the revenues for the further development of renewable energy, energy efficiency and the development of water resources and efficiencies, including rainwater harvesting and grey water utilization etc. will further fuel Americas economic revival.

“Those who control the energy supply control whole continents”.

“Those who control the water sources control life”

Another avenue to boost the U.S. economy would be to initiate a program for Made in America products. This would require certain tax benefits to the manufacturer of products in America. Any unemployed American, who returns to the workforce, reduces the dependency for financial and social support by the government. Thus it turns the worker into a revenue generator for the government, while the employee’s earning are spent on goods and services which boosts the economy further.

The city of Los Angeles must make it easy for businesses to thrive. This will create employment and increase revenues to the government and it will create the multiplier effect.

Multiplier effect definition:
An effect in economics in which an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption greater than the initial amount spent. For example, if a corporation builds a factory, it will employ construction workers and their suppliers as well as those who work in the factory. Indirectly, the new factory will stimulate employment in laundries, restaurants, and service industries and the housing industry which employs builders, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc.

Increasing bureaucracy, taxes and fees depresses the economy, reduces business development, which in turn reduces consumer spending and as a result reduces revenues to the government.

United States economic strength has long underwritten its leading role in world affairs. The buoyant tax revenues generated by economic growth fund its massive military spending, the foundation of its global hard power. America’s economic success is also fundamental to its soft power and the promotion of its free-market values in the international economy.

Jobs and the Economy – solutions – YJ Draiman r3

As Mayor of LA, how would I create jobs? We have a tremendous amount of natural resources here in Los Angeles, which we need to develop. To put it succinctly, "You can not drill for American oil and natural gas in China, Saudi Arabia or anyplace else other than America."

The more domestic energy we produce, renewable and non-renewable, the more domestic jobs we create. Moreover, jobs in the exploration and production of oil and natural gas pay more than twice the national average. At the same time, the domestic energy we produce will increase R&D in renewable energy sources, thus, increase efficiency.

Just look how far we have come in the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency in the past 10 years. I intend to accelerate that trend, and to take advantage of every resource possible in technology and funding. As I stated many times; “Those who control the energy supply control whole continents”; “Those who control the water sources control life”.

Americans should demand products made in the USA. We can produce a better product with better quality at a competitive price. It is my intention to provide numerous incentives to retain businesses here in Los Angeles, and to offer those incentives to bring businesses back to Los Angeles.

Employment creates revenues and saves the government money and resources by taking the unemployed off the government subsidy and social services. It also creates the “multiplier affect”, which is a snowball of economic growth.

One of my top priorities is to ensure that we continue to develop and promote renewable energy sources. Many in the natural gas industry believe the day when renewable energy dominates our energy landscape is far off. I disagree. With American ingenuity, innovation and determination, the dawn of renewable energy sources can be upon us now.

What I propose is a "do-it-all strategy" in which we focus not just on developing renewable energy, but also on the development of our abundant fossil fuels. While further technology and innovation in building construction would need to be developed, such need would also provide more jobs. More importantly, our reliance on over-priced outside energy would be decreased resulting in positive economic growth.

I would promote the design of a thermal solar system that provides energy, heat and hot water. In addition, I would initiate a new and advanced fuel technology for vehicles such as hydrogen, natural gas and ultra-capacitors for energy storage. Los Angeles wastes an enormous amount of energy and work hours due to traffic congestion. I plan on an expedient advancement of our public transit system and devise systems to reduce traffic congestion.

In urban areas: roads, sidewalks, buildings and other structures prevent rainwater from being absorbed in the ground and replenishing the aquifers. It is time for us to compensate for that loss by collecting the rain runoff into retaining ponds. We need to implement the use of rainwater harvesting, gray water technology, collecting the billions of gallons of rain runoff into retaining ponds, desalinization projects powered totally by renewable energy (solar and wind combo systems) and other methods of conserving natural resources. As such, we would make existing renewable systems more cost effective and more efficient.

The result of my programs would be the increase of jobs, the decrease of energy and operating costs, and a reduction of our reliance on foreign oil. Which in turn would result in decreasing the deficit and creating permanent jobs?

In short, the key to Los Angeles economic recovery is not an increase in taxes and fees. Rather, true long-term recovery will rely on the increase of efficiency and productivity; the reduction of bureaucracy; and the promotion of businesses and employment. All of which will instill confidence in our economy, generate greater revenues for the city of Los Angeles and other governmental entities.

American confidence in government is at an all time low. We no longer have the same level of faith in our institutions and leaders that we once had. Consequently, we are seeing a continued erosion of our outlook on the future. This outlook has to be changed by initiating a massive and sound education program that produce innovation and technology.

We have an opportunity to jumpstart our economy, protect our environment and put our city on the path toward energy security through greater use of our domestic energy production such as natural gas. Our domestic energy production can serve as a foundation for our energy and economic independence. Which will allow us to find the needed innovation and production of other forms of energy sources?

To realize a path toward energy security we must do what is necessary to instill confidence in the responsible development of our energy sources. We can use natural gas as a solid foundation on which to develop extensive R&D in renewable energy sources, and the efficient means to operate and maintain the mechanisms needed for such use.

Improving our educational system is the key to our economic survival. In a global, knowledge-driven economy, there is a direct correlation between engineering education and innovative progress. Our success or failure as a city will be measured by how well we do in providing the needed educational tools to promote innovation in all fields.

Leadership is not a birthright. Despite what many Americans believe, our city does not possess an innate knack for greatness. Greatness must be worked for and won by each new generation. Right now that is not happening. However, we still have time. If we place the emphasis we should on education, research and innovation, we can lead the world in the decades to come. Nevertheless, the only way to ensure we remain great tomorrow is to increase our investment in science and engineering today. In addition, we must invest in trade schools to train our future workers in the new and old technology.

We have to learn how to balance the need of the people vs. the need to protect the environment. Any extreme to either side is not good.

In today’s fast moving technologies, government as well as companies must learn to adjust and maneuver quickly to keep pace, or they will be out of business or incur deteriorating revenues and infrastructure. We must learn how stay competitive and resourceful to survive economically.

I submit: Leadership by example. I plan to cut waste, maximize productivity, reduce bureaucracy, increase efficiency and conservation in all city departments and assets, eliminate duplicating tasks and reward excellent performance and innovative methods of job performance. These are hard economic times; we must all put our shoulder to the task.

We must put all our differences aside and work together in harmony for the good of the people and the city of Los Angeles. This direction will be a win for all the people in LA.

December 19, 2012”Draiman is gaining momentum against his rivals for Mayor of Los Angeles”

Yehuda YJ Draiman

Seventy-seven days remaining to the Los Angeles primary election of March 5, 2013. The Conservative candidate – who wants to make LA “The World Capital of Renewable-energy”, The Independent contender, Yehuda YJ Draiman, is challenging LA’s political machine and gaining strength with the message to the voters – “if you all vote, we can take back our city”, we outnumber the special interests voters at least 8-2. It seems to be a very powerful and realistic slogan.

The current elected insider candidates for mayor by utilizing visible, powerful,
slight, innocuous but forceful sense – each of his three rivals insiders has
held office and set City Hall policy for more than 12 years, which explains how the insiders contributed to the city’s desperate condition and financial
insolvency. This system will eventually bankrupt the city of LA – Draiman is
systematically breaking down the political machine that is holding Angelenos
hostage he is methodically breaking down their hold on LA city government.

Draiman has stated that they the insiders made the mess, which should disqualify them from running for any office, especially the mayors, while they are continuing on the road to bankrupt the city of LA. With that kind of record, no wonder Draiman’s claims are not ignored.

Draiman is Different

As one of the two viable unelected candidates – Draiman is building a following that has no allegiance to any political party, when it comes to put the right person for the job of Mayor. Draiman states that as independent, his loyalty is to the people of Los Angeles and the City, therefore he is the right candidate at the right time, and given the chance, he can bring our city to economic and financial health.

In the past twenty months, Draiman with over 20 years of energy and utility
auditing experience contended that the opposition insiders have contributed to the economic and financial havoc in our city that is why they are not qualified for the office of Mayor. The insiders’ record of accomplishment is littered with poor judgment, they voted for multitude of bills that are detrimental to our city’s health. They have caused many of the problems that now ail Los Angeles.

The insiders, his opponents, have tried to enumerate their debatable
accomplishments in the past 12 years. They keep harping on those questionable accomplishments ignoring all their failures that caused our current disastrous condition.

Draiman has stated that the insiders’ guidance and dubious accomplishments have brought our city to its knees.

Our city is on the verge of bankruptcy, a crumbling infrastructure, schools in
disarray, economy in shambles, businesses and people are leaving the city in
droves, a transportation system and traffic pattern that is highly inadequate
for Los Angeles, no transparency and above all the total loss of trust by
Angelenos.

You are the 12 years veterans of our city council contributed to the
catastrophic situation the city of Los Angeles is currently facing, that is what
Mr. Draiman is telling his better-known rivals.

Projecting His Image

Draiman’s repeated charges that insiders’ past poor performance if not negligent performance, is the crux of our city’s problems. Draiman has shown his understanding and devotion to the challenge at hand, which is to start changing the direction our city, is currently heading.

Draiman’s approach is primarily tackling the economy and jobs, he states that
addressing these problems as top priority will reduce or resolve some of the
other issues. He would initiate a program for Made in America products. This
would require certain tax benefits to the manufacturer of products or other new businesses in Los Angeles. Any unemployed person, who returns to the workforce, reduces the dependency for financial and social support by the government. Thus it turns the worker into a revenue generator for the government, while the employee’s earning are spent on goods and services, which boosts the economy further.

Draiman asserts that the city of Los Angeles must make it easy for businesses to thrive. This will create employment and increase revenues to the government and it will create the multiplier effect.

Draiman claims that by increasing the bureaucracy taxes and fees, it depresses the economy, reduces business development, which in turn reduces consumer spending and as a result reduces revenues to the government.

Draiman is supposed to have been a long shot in a field dominated by three City Hall elected officials with name recognition. City Councilman Eric Garcetti, the most favorite for his own so-called accomplishments. City Controller and former Councilperson Wendy Greuel, a close second choice or maybe first choice, and Councilperson Jan Perry, most likely the third on the list.

While Draiman is considerably behind the three leading contenders in the race in fundraising, many claim that such deficiency is hard to overcome. That is why he is not at the top of the list.

Unless those people occupying the seats at the mayoralty discussions, and unless his rivals are pretending to be concerned, ignoring Mr. Draiman could come to haunt them in the end.

We See a Pattern

Those who have witnessed the various mayoral candidates presentations – have noticed, a specific pattern:

Mr. Garcetti, keeps stating how he has authored...”

Ms. Greuel’s performance is similar. Ms. Perry has somewhat of a milder
performance.

Mr. Draiman, has, continually addressed the critical issues with logical
solutions, which puts his opponents on notice that they must respond
accordingly.

Are LA voters going to elect a failed elected official as Mayor of Los Angeles?

Current elected officials are not qualified to be the next Mayor of LA!

Who is qualified to be the next mayor of Los Angeles 2017?

The current elected officials at LA City Hall, who are running, do not qualify to be the Mayor of LA. Their past poor performance and their contribution to the current state of affairs are reprehensible. They do not deserve to be elected again for any position in LA City Hall and especially to the position of Mayor of LA.

I hope and trust that the people of LA are not as gullible as the current elected officials presume.

It is time for the voters of LA to elect a person who cares about the people of this great city of Los Angeles, a city with a population of about 4 million people and 429 square miles. The current elected officials at city hall have abused their position; they have failed the people of Los Angeles.

The current elected officials at LA city hall should get a verbal lynching for their performance. The City of Los Angeles is in its worst condition in this century. The cause of this despicable condition is the product of the current administration.

It is time to elect officials who truly care about the people and the city of LA. Officials who exercise their elected position for the good of the people of LA, not what is in it for them?

When we support current elected officials in their quest to become the Mayor of Los Angeles, we consent to their poor performance and induce them to continue to destroy our city.

We must change the status quo of business as usual; the current administration has abused its position and trust. Otherwise we as the people of LA will pay a heavy price for such negligence.

This is the message we should be sending to people who seek public office. A candidate must have honesty and integrity as a primary character trait and above all the public’s trust.

YJ Draiman

PS.

A question to the people of Los Angeles

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is fantasizing that there has been an improvement, just look at the dysfunctional Los Angeles City Hall under his leadership for 8 years. Things could not be worse.

Do you have confidence in your current elected officials in Los Angeles City Hall?

Are they doing a good job?

No, why?

Yes, why?

Who is qualified to be the mayor of Los Angeles 2013?

Where there is discord, the mayor will bring harmony. Where there is error, the mayor will bring truth. Where there is doubt, the mayor will bring faith. And where there is despair, the mayor will bring hope. The mayor will unite the city and promote economic prosperity successfully. A person who can do these things is the one qualified to be the mayor of Los Angeles in 2013.

The City of Los Angeles is on verge of bankruptcy “The City’s financial crisis is dire … worse than you are being told … and the Mayor and the LA City Council is in denial.”
Is this a way to run a City?
You be the judge! Voice you opinion ...at Election Day March 5, 2013 by voting for a new leadership in Los Angeles City Hall!
Help in saving the City of Los Angeles from Bankruptcy and replace the dysfunctional and corrupt LA City Hall.

Therefore, if you want to save the City of Los Angeles from bankruptcy and replace a corrupt and dysfunctional LA City Hall – you must vote for an outsider, the insiders have allegiance to the special interests groups that have funded their campaigns and not to the people of Los Angeles who toil daily in Los Angeles.

Are LA voters angry enough to change the current administration at Los Angeles City Hall??

LA voters in the March 2011 Elections voted for incumbents - People do not care, why???

Why do we think LA city election on March 5, 2013 will be any different???

I would think with the poor performance and dismal track record by the current administration, the voters would demand to change the current administration at LA City Hall.

3 of the current LA Mayoral candidates are mostly recycled LA City Council members who have proven themselves unworthy by their repeated failure to solve the City's problems and Council staff members who have demonstrated their loyalty and obedience to their pockets, like well-trained dogs.

The corruption in LA government must be stopped. Public corruption in LA City Hall "pay-to-play''.

The performance of the current administrations borders on criminal neglect.

In order to move forward, we must educate the voters, let them know that the current administration goals are business as usual, there will be no significant changes and the city will be heading into bankruptcy. The escalating costs of pensions and benefits will drain most of the city budget as we head into 2020. The increased taxes and fees on residents and businesses will push people and businesses to leave the city. This again will reduce revenues to the city.

The city must initiate an austerity program. Cut salaries and benefits across the board, increase efficiency and performance. The Police Department should utilize civil service employees for clerical work, not Police Officers. The city must tighten its belt and reduce taxes and fees, streamline bureaucracy. Promote the health of existing businesses and actively go after new businesses. Any city employee who is not performing his job to standards should be put on suspension without pay or benefits and if such action has not improved the workers performance, the worker/employee should be terminated. The city must utilize its most expensive resource, its employees more efficiently, promote a good work environment and reward exceptional performance. People must realize that if they do not do their job, they will have no job and no means of support. The city must streamline management and reduce management costs. A high administrative cost is not prudent and not sustainable. LA's employee costs are one of the highest in the country. We need a change in attitude, and that starts at the top. As they say in good leadership, "follow me".

The main question is, why LA voters don't care, why they are resigned to accept failure and diminishing LA city services.

Can we not find a leader who will motivate City Hall and initiate hard choices to bring the city to financial health?

City elections should be held on the first Tuesday of November with all the other elections to Federal, County & State.

"The choice we face in Los Angeles and as a nation is simple: Do we want the clean energy and conservation technologies of tomorrow to be invented in America by American innovators, made by American workers and sold around the world, or do we want to concede those jobs to our competitors?" Asks Energy Specialist YJ Draiman. "We can and must compete for those jobs." In Los Angeles, we have the technology, the climate, the resources and the manpower. Let us proceed with conviction.

One free man defending his home is more powerful than ten hired soldiers

“YJ Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2017"

"I am an American! I am an American! I am not a republican, democrat, right wing, left wing, conservative, liberal, progressive, socialist, neoconservative, atheist, American Indian, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, redneck, hillbilly, white, black, tan, etc. what have you. I am an American! If you agree with me I think that’s great. If you do not agree with me I don’t care. I am your neighbor. I am the one who stands with you against harm, the one who helps you when you are in need, who laughs when you fall, the one who helps you up. Your suffering is my suffering; your joy is mine too. I am your friend. I am an American! "

L.A. Neighborhood Councilman YJ Draiman is running for mayor in next spring elections.

In what is billed as a major statement on the economic reform Monday, Los Angeles City Neighborhood Councilman and mayoral candidate YJ Draiman said;

Los Angeles faces an estimated $3 billion dollar plus deficit over the next five years, employee wages and benefits comprise the substantial share of the city budget. Estimated increased revenues only cover approximately a third of the increased costs.

The city must make it easy for businesses to thrive. This will create employment and increase revenues to the government and it will create the multiplier effect.

Multiplier effect definition:
An effect in economics in which an increase in spending produces an increase in national income and consumption greater than the initial amount spent. For example, if a corporation builds a factory, it will employ construction workers and their suppliers as well as those who work in the factory. Indirectly, the new factory will stimulate employment in laundries, restaurants, and service industries and the housing industry which employs builders, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, etc.

Take taxation: Taxes simply transfer resources from consumers to government displacing private spending and investment. Families whose taxes have increased will have less money to spend on themselves. They are poorer and will consume less. They also save less money, which in turn reduces the resources available for lending.

When a country and its society import more than they export for over a quarter of a century, it is bound to erode the economy to its primate state.

We have only ourselves to blame, what goods and products are we exporting, what goods and services are produced in the USA, the answer is very little by comparison.

In the past 50 years as our population has increased, technology advanced, we have become a nation that consumes enormous amounts of resources, we shop for competitive prices. Corporate America is constantly looking to increase the bottom line.

Most of the goods for and by Americans and its companies are produced overseas and in the past decade with the advancement of telecommunications, many of the services sector are also imported.

The increased costs of energy over the past 10 years, has affected the economy to unimaginable comprehension.

This economic activity has eroded our economy to its core. It seems that the situation is getting worse every year. American debts are increasing beyond our wildest dreams, endangering the future economic vitality of our future generation.

I hope it is not too late for our society to recognize the graveness of our economic predicament and its resolve to take appropriate action to stem the tide of our economic downturn.

Americans are a nation of great technology and knowhow. We must utilize that technology and our resources to find new means to regain our economic independence.

We must face and implement fiscal responsibility, both by the government and the population with its infrastructure of corporate America.

It is no longer an option, it is a must if we as a nation want to survive and retain our way of life and economic vitality.

Inflation, recession and financial crises are here. Let us take the bull by the horn, initiate immediate actions to minimize and hopefully reverse our economic crises.

Los Angeles City Neighborhood Councilman and mayoral candidate YJ Draiman further stated that city officials and labor must put their differences aside and sit at a table to help solve the LA’s financial and economic crisis, otherwise it is going to get much worse. For the sake of all Angelenos, I urge you to put your differences aside as Americans who care about our city and our country.

The US economy has enormous momentum. Metaphorically speaking, if someone turned off the locomotive that drives the US economy, the economy would go on for miles before anyone would likely notice something was wrong. But something has been wrong for many years. Is there really hope for the future? Maybe! But the terrible truth is that no one really knows. But if there is hope, we're already on the wrong track. And that has to change.

YJ Draiman stated “our deficit and lack of financial responsibility will be the end of our country”.
We are doomed.

Joe murmured accusingly. “Are you not overstating you case –“

“Overstating my case,” Draiman interrupted acidly.

“The very words the cretin in Congress handed me when I began sounding the warning, when I pleaded for backing to isolate and address the problem. They are more concerned with maintaining their precious power base and promising the moon to get elected. I am sick to death of their endless stupid committee hearings. Sick to death of their lack of guts in standing for unpopular issues, and spending the nation into bankruptcy. The two-party system has become a stagnant swamp of fraud and criminal promises. As with communism, the great experiment in democracy is withering from corruption. Who cares a damn if the economy dies? Well, by God I do. And I am going to the wall to save them. Draiman’s eyes blazed in bitterness, his lips stretched tight by the vehemence. Jim was stunned by the depth of emotion. It was strangely out of character.

When the disintegration of moral codes and standards takes place. The people no longer function as normal humans.

Los Angeles Mayor and City Council fail to admit the extent of LA’s financial crisis

Politicians must admit that they have a problem and the extent of the problem in order to attempt to solve the problem.

Los Angeles City Hall from the Mayor down to the City Council is not willing to admit to the extent of the City’s budget deficit (which is over a Billion dollars). Therefore they will not solve the deficit problem, they will only make it worse (they are in the state of denial). When will our elected officials wake-up and have the courage to face the current financial realities and address them in the proper context and take appropriate actions to solve this budget crisis before the city of LA has to declare Bankruptcy like other cities in California. It seems that our current elected officials do not have the guts, knowledge or expertise to address these problems, therefore they must resign and allow more qualified individuals to step in and help resolve LA’s financial crisis.

They say the first step is to admit that you have a problem. But when it comes to politics, it’s never quite that straightforward.

"The single most exciting thing you encounter in government is competence, because it's so rare."

YJ Draiman

Einstein is quoted as having said that if he had one hour to save the world he would spend fifty-five minutes defining the problem and only five minutes finding the solution. This quote does illustrate an important point: before jumping right into solving a problem, we should step back and invest time and effort to improve our understanding of it. What is the most important step in problem solving: clearly defining the problem and the extent of the problem in the first place!

Be sure to vote your conscience and not be swayed by money and empty promises.

No candidate should be able to buy his office with money and influence, it defeats the Democratic process.

"To be successful, representative government assumes that elections will be controlled by the citizenry at large, not by those who give the most money. Electors must believe their vote counts. Elected officials must owe their allegiance to the people, not to their own wealth or to the wealth of interest groups who speak only for the selfish fringes of the whole community."
...

YJ Draiman my bid to be elected as mayor of Los Angeles - 2017

Truer facts were never posted. Peace, justice and liberty through musical expression.

Today turns into tomorrow and then the future is in your face. Make it happen, now is the time.

YJ Draiman wrote an article for the Los Angeles time’s summer 2011 issue.

My name is YJ Draiman and I want to be your Mayor. And here’s why.

Los Angeles is a City at a crossroads. It is where we raise our families, have our businesses and our homes. But every week shops close and we hear more complaints about parking, crime and taxes. Development ideas that have the potential to improve tax revenue, foot traffic and downtown charm with little risk to taxpayers require much attention before anything can move forward. There is discussion about making Los Angeles a greener healthier place to live, yet nothing changes. Our low-income population continues to struggle. In short, we are a place in need of attention, a place that needs its Mayor to be more than just a legislative figurehead.

A Mayor must be a leader, a person full of ideas for our future and an ability to make these ideas a reality. Los Angeles needs a Mayor who works and delegates. Our City Department’s job is to keep our municipality running smoothly and efficiently. They do not set the direction of our community. That is the job of the Mayor and the City council.

That direction must be accompanied by vision that will help the Los Angeles we love become the Los Angeles we imagine.

As an elected Board member, I have begun to tackle the problems we have by—working with my peers, merchants, residents and law enforcement to combat nighttime noise, litter and crime, resulting in reduction of crime in Los Angeles;

—working to fill empty storefronts and solve parking problems by improving signage, communication and parking stock;
—working with state, local and federal officials to create jobs and funding;
—working to improve recreation by spearheading the building of basketball courts, a new rowing dock and creating a boxing program for youth;
—working to get clinics in our schools and our neighborhoods to serve seniors and those
who struggle with medical care;
—working to replace our unsuccessful affordable housing law with a program that will help the poor and elderly.
My fellow Board members support me in my bid for Mayor because we share a vision. But someone must lead the charge. Our work must be advanced. We must have a beautiful green waterfront with plenty of healthy activity; we must find a way to reduce taxes and fees, encourage smart growth and lose our dependence on access revenue. We must see business flourish.
This election is a choice between moving forward and standing still. If you believe that
Los Angeles can do better, then I am the right choice for your Mayor

People, who know how to employ themselves, always find leisure moments, while those who do nothing are forever in a hurry.

YJ Draiman for Mayor of LA 2017

"When will "ENOUGH BE ENOUGH?"

We keep electing our political leaders from the same parasitic pool of privileged families.
I challenge anyone to name the congressperson, or senator in Washington, or your state that was brought up in a middle income, middle class family, or had to work a real job to pay the bills. I'm not talking about attorneys, or corporate top level managers. These people are not what I consider workers! Show me the person in our government that has had to borrow money to send his kids to college, or take out an "inflated interest" loan to buy a house! Do any of them really care that we are mortgaging our children's future to China? How many of them have had to go to war, or serve in the military other than be an officer with the elitist mindset that permeates our armed forces?
We as voters are getting exactly what we have reaped because we fail to elect any leaders that actually know who we are, and what we think. Our salvation can only come from our votes, and we should vote the man, not the party! Vote for the person that has proven his way from a humble beginning, and succeeded...oh yeah! That's right! You won't find any such person because unless they sell out to a special interest group with money, fat chance they will be able to afford to compete in the arena of the privileged elite! Money actually buys our leaders even before they are elected!
The current job down turn was badly handles from the beginning and the government’s response to the crisis has, in some instances, made matters worse. The feds threw stimulus money at California which simultaneously cut its EDD staff precisely when the unemployed needed their help the most. Sacramento sent bailout money to local municipalities like Los Angeles, which used the money to save high paying government jobs only to subsequently eliminate those same jobs as part of the city’s cost saving measures. The state and federal government layered on large amounts of unemployment benefits that made people out of work feel good but did nothing to help them get back to work. The benefits have now run out and the unemployment recipients have been thrust back into the ranks of job seekers with no new work skills and no new job prospects.
We have spent trillions of dollars and have nothing to show for it. What we need is a disaster plan and disaster response, which requires identifying those in need of critical attention from those who need minimal retooling of skills to reenter the job market. Is the consortium of people and foundations that we wrote about the answer to our critical need? Who knows but if they don’t address the critical steps needed to getting people back to work it will all be a waste of time. Regardless of our own personal beliefs and values; we must join together and address this unemployment issue before our great nation is permanently damaged. This is perhaps due to the greed and pettiness of some of our leaders; but now is not the time to be pointing fingers. We have a duty to help our fellow citizens. It is easy to point out what is wrong; harder to develop and implement solutions to problems and issues.
I agree that working together in a spirit of cooperation and collaboration; we can address and resolve any challenge.

I support and look forward to contributing and getting our country contributing solutions, ideas, approaches, and resources to our communities, our country and our world.

Culture is embodied in the phrase "this is the way we do things around here". More precisely, "what people perceive they have to do to fit in, be accepted and rewarded around here"? Culture is the sum of the behavioral norms of the workgroup, team, division or organization. It is relatively common to have different cultures between teams or divisions within the one organization. These are referred to as sub-cultures and they can range from being marginally different from the culture of the overall organization to being quite radically different. This has implications for not only understanding an organization's culture but also for managing it effectively.

Why is culture important?

Have you ever tried to stay within the speed limit when everyone around you is driving at speeds well over the speed limit? The behavioral norms of a group can strongly influence the behavior of the individual. Culture defines the behavioral norms (accepted behavior) in a group, team, division or organization. In turn, behavior underpins the performance (what gets done, when it gets done and how it gets done) of the organization and perceptions (reputation) of that organization.

A Framework for Managing Culture

While managing culture requires a range of approaches and cannot simply be managed by dictating the culture you want, it is essentially about managing messages. The objective is to ensure messages are consistently conveyed through aligned behaviors (especially of key people), systems and symbols.

What is accountability?

The key concept is the notion of having a sense of 'responsibility' and a willingness to be 'answerable' to others and is the difference between a group and a team. In our experience, the most important factor in developing accountability is the quality of leadership and management (and this is the only aspect leaders or managers are really in 'control' of). Good leaders and managers generate high levels of accountability in their people.

Whilst organizations should plan to recruit the right people in terms of their willingness to be team players and be accountable; recruitment is only the starting point. The real key is what leaders and organizations do from that point onwards. Good recruits can be 'lost' in poorly lead organizations with unsupportive cultures. Many managers see accountability as being attributed to an individual's values; therefore they blame the individual and underestimate their own role in creating an accountability culture. In doing this, a great opportunity to build a high performance organization is missed.

Responsibility is not blame

It is important not to mistake responsibility for blame as they are diametrically opposed concepts. Where one exists the other will not remain. Responsibility is the ability to make a response; it is future and action focused. Blame is past focused and is more about the ego of isolating people, teaching them a lesson, point scoring or making them feel guilty/bad than it is about accountability. Guilt and fear is not a good basis for developing accountability.

2. Engage your people: meaningful involvement with alignment. Remember you can't truly and sustainably motivate another person but you can engage them. It is through engagement that motivation will grow.

3. Ownership: once the first two elements are in place people start to 'take' ownership when they start to think and act like owners. (As this happens the future possibility for selling down equity, as part of the firm's succession plan, becomes a reality).

The level of accountability is directly related to the level of trust, engagement and ownership that exists within an organization. Certainly work at improving all levels simultaneously; however remember higher levels in the pyramid cannot progress any faster than the base they are built on, there are no short cuts. Without trust and engagement no performance measures and rewards will be particularly effective over the medium to long term if you cannot buy accountability. The key to building a culture of accountability is to find a way to lead people without ruling them.

Accountability ensures actions and decisions taken by public officials are subject to oversight so as to guarantee that government initiatives meet their stated objectives and respond to the needs ... of the community they are meant to be benefiting, thereby contributing to better governance and poverty reduction.

Accountability is one of the cornerstones of good governance; however, it can be
difficult for scholars and practitioners alike to navigate the myriad of different types of
accountability. Recently, there has been a growing discussion within both the academic and development communities about the different accountability typologies.
This Note outlines the present debate focusing on the definition and substance of
different forms of accountability and considers the key role that legislatures play
in ensuring accountability.

What is Accountability?
The notion of accountability is an amorphous concept that is difficult to define in precise terms. However, broadly speaking, a relationship where an individual or body, and the performance of tasks or functions by that individual or body, are subject to another's oversight, direction or request that they provide information or justification for their actions.
Therefore, the concept of accountability involves two distinct stages:
accountability exists when there is answerability and the obligation of the government, its agencies and public officials to provide information about their decisions and actions and to justify them to the public and those institutions of accountability tasked with providing oversight. Enforcement suggests that the public or the institution responsible for accountability can sanction the offending party or remedy the contravening behavior. As such, different institutions of accountability might be responsible for either or both of these stages.

Why is Accountability Important to Governance?
Evaluating the ongoing effectiveness of public officials or public bodies ensures that they are performing to their full potential, providing value for money in the provision of public services, instilling confidence in the government and being responsive to the community they are meant to be serving.

What types of Accountability?
The concept of accountability can be classified according to the type of accountability exercised and/ or the person, group or institution the public official answers to. The present debate as to the content of different forms of accountability is best conceptualized by reference to opposing forms of accountability. As such, the main forms of accountability are described below in reference to their opposing, or alternate, concept.

In addressing the concept of a modern civil justice system, and what its features should be, we determined that we would measure our recommendations against the following criteria, which we see as the legitimizing principles underlying such a system. These benchmarks are:

Fairness

Affordability

Accessibility

Timeliness

Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness

Accountability, and

A Streamlined Process and Administration

Characteristics of the Modern Civil Justice System

To meet these benchmarks, in my view, a modern civil justice system for LA must have at least the following characteristics:

It must have the confidence of the public, and the public must have a legitimate and meaningful involvement in the way the system works.

It must be properly and adequately funded and resourced.

It must focus on "dispute resolution" as a whole, and make available to the public, on an institutional basis, both the traditional court adjudication processes and the whole panoply of alternative dispute resolution ("ADR";) techniques which enable parties to work out their disputes on their own or with the assistance of a third party.

Its courts must be presided over by an impartial and completely independent judiciary, the members of which must be of the highest caliber and character and who must be representative of the society they are being entrusted to judge. As the civil justice system evolves, judges, we believe, will be called upon to bring skills as case managers and general dispute resolvers to their role as well.

Its administration must likewise be staffed by qualified and trained personnel at all levels.

It must feature a unified management, administration and budgetary model for the administration of the justice system, featuring clearly defined lines of responsibility.

It must be equipped with modern computer and electronic technology to enable the participants in the system to work effectively as an integrated whole.

It must operate under the model of case flow management, a time and event managing system which facilitates early resolution of cases, reduces delay and backlogs, and lowers the cost of litigation. Case flow management shifts the overall management of cases through the time parameters from the Bar -- where it has traditionally been -- to the judiciary, streamlines the process, permits the introduction of ADR techniques, and creates an environment where judges, administrators and quasi-judicial officials can work together to integrate the various elements of the system into a co-coordinated whole.

These themes and concepts are developed in more detail throughout this, our First Report and will continue to evolve, in consultation with the various participants in the justice system, as we work toward our Final Report later this year. What follows in the remainder of this Chapter is a brief commentary on the more significant features, in order to set the context for our recommendations.

1.2 PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND PARTICIPATION

In order for the public to have a feeling of confidence in the integrity of their civil justice system they are entitled to:

timely and affordable civil justice

be able to understand the system which provides that justice, at least in its fundamental elements if not in its procedural complexities and,

basic, straightforward, information to assist it when it comes into contact with the system.

As the noted American jurist, Justice Felix Frankfurter, expressed it:

"The Court's authority, consisting of neither the purse nor the sword, rests ultimately on substantial public confidence in its moral sanction"

Like most other institutions in to-day's society, the Courts are the subject of increasing scrutiny by the public and the media. This scrutiny makes it ever more apparent that the Court be worthy of the public confidence which is the ultimate basis for societies willingness to accept its decisions.

This is particularly so at a time when the Charter of Rights and Freedoms has placed the Courts at the centre of many controversies which in former days were the sole preserve of the Legislatures and Parliament. At the same time, new and proliferating legislation in areas such as family law, consumer protection law, environmental law, class actions and tax and corporate-commercial law -- to name only a few -- is placing the civil justice system in the public eye on a daily basis.

As a result, the public is demanding more of a say about what goes on in the justice system, and the ability to participate in a meaningful way in affecting what happens. As the public member of the Review put it, there is presently

"No meaningful and substantive role for the citizen in the justice system. Citizens are less willing today to place blind faith and trust in institutions, in professionals and in elected officials. They are more demanding of accountability, more insistent on openness and more determined to be involved in actively shaping our institutions.

The Civil Justice Review agrees that the public must be given a more participatory role in the civil justice system, and we have elaborated on this view in the Chapter called "Changing Attitudes, Roles and Responsibilities.

YJ Draiman

http://draimanenterprises.com/

What creates the jobs and boosts the economy

What creates the jobs and boosts the economy, Economists astutely observes, is a healthy economic ecosystem surrounding the company, which starts with the company's customers.

The company's customers buy the company's products, which in turn, creates the need for the employees to produce, sell, and service those products. If those customers go broke, the demand for the company's products will collapse. Moreover, the jobs will disappear, regardless of what the entrepreneur does.

Now, of course entrepreneurs are an important part of the company-creation process. In addition, so are investors, who risk capital in the hope of earning returns. Nevertheless, ultimately, whether a new company continues growing and creates self-sustaining jobs is a function of customers' ability and willingness to pay for the company's products, not the entrepreneur or the investor capital. Suggesting that "rich entrepreneurs and investors" create the jobs, therefore, Economists observe, is like suggesting that mouse create evolution.

It is imperative that we stop outsourcing products and services to foreign countries. We must rebuild American industry. This will create jobs, increase economic prosperity and boost tax revenues for the government.

Comment about those who trust democracy enough to offer themselves up to its abuses in every election cycle. His comment lauded those who put themselves on the line for the opportunity to serve the public. I found much to agree with in what he said, and a good deal to differ with as well.
While those who trust democracy in offering themselves for public service are to be praised, not everyone running for office trusts democracy to that extent, and many display a decided distrust of democracy. They are easy enough to pick out.
A candidate's trust in democracy is measurable by the way that their campaign is conducted. When they are running their campaign on a shoestring without professional campaign staff, it tells you that their level of trust is high, both in democracy and democratic principles and in their confidence in their own ideas. Often the value of their ideas can be measured by the number of volunteers who are willing to offer their own time and effort to see that those ideas get a hearing in governance.
This is not to say that a well-funded campaign cannot evince a trust in democracy, but the idealist's campaign nearly always does.
Conversely, there are candidates whose level of distrust in democracy is clearly evident. The symptoms of that condition are as easily picked out, because in spite of the candidate's efforts, they are almost impossible to conceal from anyone who is looking for them.
Those symptoms include inordinate amounts of cash, to be used in an effort to buy the election. In this election cycle, the first since the Supreme Court edict regarding the Citizens United case, we have hundreds of millions of dollars in contributions being funneled through money laundering operations such as American Crossroads, Americans for Prosperity, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
The sources of these funds are jealously guarded from public disclosure, but you can bet your bottom billion that the candidates receiving those funds know exactly where they came from. The candidate being in the dark about those facts would defeat the object of the exercise, which is to buy a candidate and make sure that he stays bought. If he didn't know who his new owner was, he might cast an errant vote, and that's not what he was purchased for in the first place.
There is also the ultimate in cynical distrust of democracy that is demonstrated by efforts to manipulate the electorate in casting its votes. These are mostly techniques to reduce turnout for the opponent by voter caging, leading to illegitimate challenges to individual voters at the polls, or, as we see happening in Nevada this year, cynical campaign commercials featuring appeals to the opponent's supporters to stay home on Election Day.
Other ways to depress turnout require confederates in control of the voting apparatus so that the allotment of facilities to conduct the election can be skewed to reduce availability of those facilities in selected areas to make voting more difficult and increased in those areas that the fraudulent candidate sees as more solidly in his favor.
Then there is good old-fashioned election fraud. In this age, the intention to engage in election fraud is frequently telegraphed by the dishonest candidate's admonishments against, or intention to oppose, voter fraud, a crime that is astonishingly rare, but played up by those who wish to deceive the electorate
The methods for election fraud are many, but in this day the most common is the manipulation of data streams from those eminently hack able electronic voting machines, especially those without a paper trail to provide a check on the electronic results. Of course, election fraud has always been with us, sometimes elevated to an art form as in the electoral depredations of Tammany Hall.
It's what inspired Josef Stalin to say, "It's not the people who vote that counts, and it’s who counts the votes." We may safely conclude from this that Josef Stalin didn't have much trust in democracy.
Up to now, I have been leaving it to the reader to conclude who does and who does not trust democracy, understanding that they are well capable of rendering that judgment, but to refrain from naming names seems like an act of ignoring the elephant in the room. We all know that these various cheats and frauds are those that are predominantly employed by Republicans in this century, so I might as well make the general statement, Republicans do not trust democracy, and they have good reason not to.
They understand as well as anyone that the direction in which they intend to move the country is one that is unacceptable to a free and open society. To trust in democracy is to take part in their own destruction, and they will not countenance that without employing every dirty trick, telling every lie and violating every public trust and every applicable law to advance their narrowly selfish aims.
It is up to us, the People of the United States, to perpetuate our democracy, our values and our society by stepping into a voting booth and choosing candidates who do trust democracy. By doing so we can make our democracy worthy of the trust that we all place in it.
Posted by YJ Draiman

Economy – Jobs

The most important issue facing the country in 2013 and beyond is our economy's recovery. With China and other nations owning our debt and American's spending more than they are making on products and services that are service offshore, America's productivity and wealth are leaving our hands and control.

Americans will have to buy American and by less than they want and only what they need. Some businesses will go out of business if they sell only offshore produced items, but other businesses will grow. Things may be more costly at first, but with more people in America working, prices will come down for products produced in America.

We need to stop printing money and produce purchasable. We need to get back to producing, industry and farming which made us undeniably one of the most powerful nations in the world.

All empires rise and fall. America is falling due to economic implosion. Only American can stop it. It is time to stop fueling Wall Street and the government. We need to fuel Main Street.

YJ Draiman

Bring the City of Los Angeles to Economic Health!

Elect YJ Draiman for Mayor in 2017

In your hands, my fellow Angelenos, more than in mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course. Since the city of Los Angeles, was founded, each generation of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves of young Americans who answered the call to service surround the globe.

Now the trumpet summons us again. Not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need; Not as a call to battle, though embattled we are; But a call to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in and year out, "rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation" - a struggle against the common enemies of man: greed, tyranny, poverty, disease, corruption, violence, deception, enslavement and war itself.

If you want to make a difference in your life and the life of the City of Los Angeles – Bring back our City to economic prosperity, its vibrancy and vitality – Elect Yehuda YJ Draiman for Mayor on March 5, 2013

Do you want to experience again LA’s vibrancy and vitality

Are we to follow a paradigm of failed leadership or are we to flourish economically – truthfulness and financial discipline will – intensity; That the quality of truthfulness enabled him to live with. Through strict adherence to truth, we should be able to recognize that the ideas concerning metaphysics that are current in Los Angeles are falsehoods. We should not underestimate the attractiveness of those ideas. At that time, Los Angeles was the world's entertainment and intellectual center. For this reason, the ideas circulating within that country's intellectual elite came with great persuasive power. Moreover, a firm grip of the truth should enable us to know that those superficially plausible ideas are in fact intellectual booby traps.

I suggest that another way through which the quality of truth enabled our forefathers to live with life (truly living) even in today’s time is our truthfulness to ourselves. To understand what I mean when I say that X was truthful to himself, consider the opposite situation wherein we do not acknowledge to ourselves that we are doing wrong. Such intellectual dishonesty precludes the possibility of correcting the error of our ways. Indeed, the person may continue doing wrong, and do so with an air of self-satisfaction -- thus adding haughtyness to his/her portfolio of bad deeds.

With the advent of joy, X was able to reconnect with higher power. Further, as this account indicates, Life living and happiness can be mutually reinforcing. Starting with truthfulness, a person may generate a self-sustaining upward spiral. Thus, adherence to truth can help a person live his/her life with joy. And unburdened of negative feelings to life, the person can come still closer to an awareness of reality; that is, to recognition that the entire Cosmos draws its existence from higher power.

Will Los Angeles get the Economic and Political Revolution that it so desperately needs?

Only time will tell. What’s certain for now is that only when the machine and its masters no longer dictate and control L.A.’s fate can this diverse and dynamic region recover and resume its ascent toward greatness.

We as voters are getting exactly what we have reaped because we fail to elect any leaders that actually know whom we are, and what we think. Our salvation can only come from our votes, and we should vote the man, not the party! Vote for the person that has proven his way from a humble beginning, and succeeded...oh yeah!That's right! You won't find any such person because unless they sell out to a special interest group with money, fat chance they will be able to afford to compete in the arena of the privileged elite! Money actually buys our leaders even before they are elected!The current job down turn was badly handles from the beginning and the government’s response to the crisis has, in some instances, made matters worse.“Los Angeles government by the people for the people” Let us take back our city from the corrupt politicians.

We can do it, if we all vote.

We can overcome the special interests vote and take back our city. We outnumber them by a least 8-2.

Remember, every vote counts, so do not let yours go to waste.

YJ Draiman for Mayor

Some people stated that these are some of the reasons people do not vote; at least a dozen reasons for not voting: laziness, apathy, lack of education, disillusionment with the process, feelings of helplessness and a general disdain for the negativity of partisan politics.
After educating the crowd, some came away from the discussion believing those are hurdles that can and should be overcome. “After listening,” many people stated, “it makes us realize voting is really very important.” http://yjdraiman.org/

If you vote, you can make a difference by shear numbers alone!

Los Angeles must change its dysfunctional leadership!

The “Vote Organization” sponsored by YJ Draiman intends to gather the masses of the population, the people who are being ignored and apathetic. These people outnumber the Special interests groups and their puppets by at least 8-2. In gathering all the masses to vote as a cohesive force by sheer numbers alone, we can retake our government and place candidates whose allegiance is to the people as a whole. We can place candidates who care about the people, our cities, states and country.

It is voter apathy that prevents people from voting – YJ DraimanIt is known that many people distrust politicians and the “system”, and many people believe that their vote is worthless in the end. This leads to high levels of “voter apathy”, especially in municipal and state elections.
We need to educate the people that their votes do count, that each vote helps them to exercise their constitutional right in a Democratic country. I think if people care about the future it is their obligation to vote and exercise their voting power to make a difference.
I know many voters claim that special interests groups and the money people control the elections.
I feel very strongly that if the masses of people would rise up and vote, we could overcome the special interests groups and the money people. After all the peoples, numbers are much greater than the special interests groups and the money people.
... It is a government by the people for the people.
I plead with all voters please exercise your right and vote and make the difference.

We must develop our hydrocarbon resources and allocate a 20 percent of the revenue for renewable energy and energy efficiency. This will turn the economy and provide thousands of jobs for the long term. Our economic prosperity depends on it. These jobs can not be performed overseas. It will also increase our energy independence and make the U.S. less reliant on foreign sources of energy.

One free man defending his home is more powerful than ten hired soldiers

One free man defending his home is more powerful than ten hired soldiers

“YJ Draiman for Mayor of Los Angeles 2017"

"I am an American! I am an American! I am not a republican, democrat, right wing, left wing, conservative, liberal, progressive, socialist, neoconservative, atheist, American Indian, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, redneck, hillbilly, white, black, tan, etc. what have you. I am an American! If you agree with me I think that’s great. If you do not agree with me I don’t care. I am your neighbor. I am the one who stands with you against harm, the one who helps you when you are in need, who laughs when you fall, the one who helps you up. Your suffering is my suffering; your joy is mine too. I am your friend. I am an American! "

LA’s most immediate issues that voting Angelenos face, the spring of 2013 and the Mayoral and City Council races of Los Angeles are around the corner, and is already on the mind of Angelenos who wonder how or even if the mayoral contenders who wish to replace Antonio Villaraigosa are able and can keep the city out of Chapter 9 bankruptcy.

LA’s current financial crisis bring about, the need to confront whether Chapter 9 bankruptcy, and/or the need of voters to say no to new City taxes and threaten a Chapter 9 bankruptcy in order to establish further and necessary charter reform, is a fundamental question that might be fair to proclaim as a legacy of the outgoing Villaraigosa mayoral tenure.

The five main mayoral contenders (insiders City Controller Wendy Greuel, City Councilmember Eric Garcetti, City Councilmember Jan Perry and the two outsiders; Prosecutor Kevin James and Energy specialist YJ Draiman) will all need to ask themselves whether they can truly keep Los Angeles out of Chapter 9 bankruptcy, or if they are willing and have the courage to confront it as a method of reversing the heretofore-irreversible operating problems in Los Angeles that have occurred during and even before Mayor Villaraigosa’s terms as mayor.

Why would anyone with a sound mind elect any of the insiders; they have been in LA City Hall for over ten years and have brought the city of LA to its current crisis, they have failed the people, they do not deserve a chance to destroy our city further.

Angelenos have a chance to replace about seventy percent of the current elected officials at LA City Hall. Let us take advantage and elect a new breed of leaders with fresh ideas and no allegiance to the political machine or the special interests groups.

The mayoral contenders will need to explain how they can truly represent Angelenos homeowners, other residents and businesses while also pursuing closed-door sessions with intransigent public unions that currently exclude ordinary Angelenos. They will need to answer those who want further charter reform that would empower, and not marginalize, neighborhood councils that best represent the grassroots leadership of LA neighborhoods.

And, of course, the mayoral contenders will have to explain their own solutions to job creation, business friendly attitude, transportation and infrastructure visions as well as how to take on the independent-but-interdependent LAUSD administration and teachers unions, and much more.

During elections, there are many words spoken that usually fail to produce action, and after elections the need to see action is by far more important than mere words. But the challenges and hopes, and the failures, established by the lackluster eight years of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa cannot be ignored. The City of Los Angeles is now in its worst economic and financial condition since the 1930’s.

Many people and businesses are leaving the city. The people of LA have lost their trust in the government and the various special interests groups that are milking the city

Los Angeles needs a strong innovative leader who can unify the various factions in the city, and form a unified cohesive force to overcome the current crises and dissention. Every faction must be willing to compromise or we are doomed.

We must put all our differences aside and it is imperative that we all work together for the betterment of the city and its population. We have a saleable product; let us promote it, market it and sell it.

We must develop our hydrocarbon resources and allocate a 20 percent of the revenue for renewable energy and energy efficiency. This will turn the economy and provide thousands of jobs for the long term. Our economic prosperity depends on it. These jobs can not be performed overseas. It will also increase our energy independence and make the U.S. less reliant on foreign sources of energy.

One free man defending his home is more powerful than ten hired soldiers

When Elected as Mayor. It is my intent to rejuvenate the City of Los Angeles as a center of innovation and productivity, a city where we are rebuilding the manufacturing infrastructure. I plan to implement Energy & utility efficiency. We can produce goods and services at competitive prices and better quality. We must make Los Angeles business friendly, reduce taxes, cut expenses, reduce bureaucracy, streamline regulations, inform all city departments that a new mandate is taking place and that is, it is the city department’s job to cooperate and promote new businesses and help retain existing businesses. All city Workers must increase productivity and efficiency.
Each new business generates employment and revenues, which reduces the burden on the people of Los Angeles.
It will take the full cooperation of the people, businesses, unions and government to achieve this tremendous task.
"Let us take back our city and make it Los Angeles governed by the people...

American economy in crises - a long time coming RevWhen a country and its society import more than they export for over a quarter of a century, it is bound to erode the economy to its primate state.

We have only ourselves to blame, what goods and products are we exporting, what goods and services are produced in the USA, the answer is very little by comparison.

In the past 50 years as our population has increased, technology advanced, we have become a nation that consumes enormous amounts of resources, we shop for competitive prices. Corporate America is constantly looking to increase the bottom line.

Most of the goods for and by Americans and its companies are produced overseas and in the past decade with the advancement of telecommunications, many of the services sector are also imported.

The increased costs of energy over the past 10 years, has affected the economy to unimaginable comprehension.

This economic activity has eroded our economy to its core. It seems that the situation is getting worse every year. American debts are increasing beyond our wildest dreams, endangering the future economic vitality of our future generation.

I hope it is not too late for our society to recognize the graveness of our economic predicament and its resolve to take appropriate action to stem the tide of our economic downturn.

Americans are a nation of great technology and knowhow. We must utilize that technology and our resources to find new means to regain our economic independence.

We must face and implement fiscal responsibility, both by the government and the population with its infrastructure of corporate America.

It is no longer an option, it is a must if we as a nation want to survive and retain our way of life and economic vitality.

Inflation, recession and financial crises are here. Let us take the bull by the horn, initiate immediate actions to minimize and hopefully reverse our economic crises.

"Now more than ever our country needs strong leadership from the states, that are making tough decisions to live within their means, keep taxes low and provide opportunities to job creators so their citizens can provide for their families and prosper."

The US economy has enormous momentum. Metaphorically speaking, if someone turned off the locomotive that drives the US economy, the economy would go on for miles before anyone would likely notice something was wrong. But something has been wrong for many years. Is there really hope for the future? Maybe. But the terrible truth is that no one really knows. But if there is hope, we're already on the wrong track. And that has to change.

Americans are a nation of great technology and knowhow. We must utilize that technology and our resources to find new means to regain our economic independence.

We must face and implement fiscal responsibility, both by the government and the population with its infrastructure of corporate America.

It is no longer an option, it is necessary if we as a nation want to survive and retain our way of life and economic vitality.

Inflation, recession and financial crises are here. Let us take the bull by the horn, initiate immediate actions to minimize and hopefully reverse our economic crises.

"Now more than ever our country needs strong leadership from the states, that are making tough decisions to live within their means, keep taxes low and provide opportunities to job creators so their citizens can provide for their families and prosper."

The US economy has enormous momentum. Metaphorically speaking, if someone turned off the locomotive that drives the US economy, the economy would go on for miles before anyone would likely notice something was wrong. However, something has been wrong for many years. Is there really hope for the future? Maybe! Nevertheless, the terrible truth is that no one really knows. However, if there is hope, we are already on the wrong track. Moreover, that has to change.

YJ Draiman said… “It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who, at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who, at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat.”

We must take responsibility for our actions if we are to succeed“To put the world right in order, we must first put the nation in order; to put the nation in order, we must first put the family in order; to put the family in order, we must first cultivate our personal life; we must first set our hearts right.” When you start realizing that you alone are responsible for your own life, then things start getting better. It might be scary at first, because now you do not have anyone else to blame. However, there is a level of freedom associated with taking responsibility for your life. “The price of greatness is responsibility.” There is some point in your life where you can no longer be persuaded by what the crowd is doing. You can no longer feel comfortable with the status quo. You have this feeling deep within you that there is more to life and that, “if it is to be, it is up to me.” That day is a very good day, because you have just learned a major secret to life. You are the creator of your own destiny and only you can make your dreams come true. “Accept responsibility for your life. Know that it is you who will get you where you want to go, no one else.”
Family, Honesty and morality are the foundation of society.

United States economic strength has long underwritten its leading role in world affairs. The buoyant tax revenues generated by economic growth fund its massive military spending, the foundation of its global hard power. United States economic success is also fundamental to its soft power and the promotion of its free-market values in the international economy. Finally, prosperity generally makes the American public more willing to support an expansive foreign policy on the world stage, whereas economic problems tend to engender popular introspection. Ronald Reagan understood that a healthy economy was a prerequisite for American power when he became president amid conditions of runaway inflation and recession. As he put it in his memoirs, ‘In 1981, no problem the country faced was more serious than the economic crisis – not even the need to modernize our armed forces – because without a recovery, we couldn’t afford to do the things necessary to make the country strong again or make a serious effort to reduce the dangers of nuclear war. Nor could America regain confidence in itself and stand tall once again. Nothing was possible unless we made the economy sound again’.

Today the United States has to deal with the impact of far worse economic problems than it did when Reagan became president. These include the fallout from the most severe financial crisis since 1929 (the near-meltdown of the financial system in 2008), the worst recession since the Great Depression (the so-called Great Recession of 2007-2009), a fragile recovery that could well falter into a double-dip recession in 2013, the blowback effects of a European debt crisis, and a future of unsustainable public debt without a correction of fiscal course.

The current state of the American economy confirms the historical trend that downturns resulting from financial crisis (as in the 1870s, 1890s, and 1930s) are far more serious than other recessions. However, the debt overhang adds a new and very worrying dimension. Indeed America’s fiscal and economic weaknesses are interlinked because the revival of economic growth is the necessary first step in dealing with America’s public debt problem. To date, the woeful set of economic and fiscal indicators has not seriously diminished America’s global power, but it has had some effect and threatens to have much greater – perhaps catastrophic – impact in time.

In immediate terms, it is clear that the United States is far from any tipping point where it has to scale back its military power very significantly because of economic and debt problems at home. True, it is supporting rather than lead role in the NATO intervention in Libya owed something to the Obama White House’s desire to contain defense costs while America is still actively engaged against the Taliban in Afghanistan and has just started to run down its Iraq commitments. In Obama’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 budget plan, defense outlays are also scheduled to decline from 5.1 percent of GDP in FY 2011 to 3.4 percent of GDP in FY 2016. Nevertheless, the savings will largely result from the running down of commitments in Afghanistan and Iraq and waste elimination rather than the reduction of core strength. Even if a new crisis demanded expansion of military spending in the course of the next decade, the United States should be able to meet that need without imposing a strain on its economy.

On the other hand, the United States will likely face strategic restraints in the second decade of this century. While short-term defense budget expansion may be possible to meet a crisis, a sustained increase appears out of the question. The military future for the United States, therefore, is one of making do with less. It will not keep pace with the defense expansion of potential competitors. Russia and China almost doubled their military spending over the first decade of the twenty-first century and look set to continue this rate of growth in the second on the back of their buoyant economies. This does not represent a threat to the military supremacy of the US, which accounted for 46.5 percent of total global military spending in 2009, but its competitors will almost certainly use their fiscal advantage to disrupt and erode its superiority. Moreover, the pressure for deficit reduction is highly likely to impact negatively upon defense investment that meets future rather than immediate needs, particularly in procurement, research and development, and personnel development. In essence, therefore, the United States may have to develop a grand strategy that prioritizes ends and links them to means, somewhat in the manner of Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s rather than one based on assumptions that its economic power can underwrite military expansion as in the 1960s, 1980s, and early twenty-first century.

From FY 2020 onward, however, the future for US military power looks bleaker without a domestic correction of fiscal course. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the United States will exceed its historic peak for public debt-GDP size of 109 percent (reached at the end of World War II) in 2023 [a new Government Accountability Office report projects the somewhat later date of 2027] and will experience further fiscal deterioration to approach 190 percent by 2035. Under that scenario, the three largest entitlement programmers – Social Security (old age pensions), Medicare (medical assistance for the poor), and Medicaid (medical benefits for Social Security recipients) – plus interest on the public debt, will consume total budget revenues by 2030, requiring all other programmers to be funded from the deficit.

These entitlements are the root cause of America’s long-term fiscal problems. According to a Government Accountability Office projection, GDP is set to expand by 71 percent in real terms from 2007 to 2031, but spending for Social Security, Medicaid, and Medicare is set to increase by 127 percent, 224 percent, and 235 percent, respectively. The Social Security expansion reflects the aging of the population as the baby-boom generation, the population bulge born between 1945 and 1965, reaches retirement age. The growth of healthcare outlays is also attributable in part to this, but more significantly will result from the inflation of costs as medical treatments and technology improve. It is unclear whether the Obama health insurance program will have much impact on aggregate costs: it will likely reduce demand for Medicaid but increase other healthcare outlays.

In the assessment of the CBO, which has a reputation for realism rather than hyperbole, ‘The explosive path of federal debt ... underscores the need for large and rapid policy changes to put the nation on a sustainable fiscal course’. It is unthinkable that the US government will not take action – it is a matter of when, not if – but the longer the debt problem remains unaddressed, the greater it will grow and the more difficult it will become to resolve. Nevertheless, when Washington policymakers do face up to the issue and make the difficult choices involved in reining in public indebtedness, defense will be very vulnerable to retrenchment. Even though its claim on the public purse is smaller than that of domestic entitlements, military cutbacks are politically easier to effect than those on pension and healthcare support are replicating the pattern for its military power, America’s economic and fiscal problems are likely to impact on its position in the international economy more in the medium to long-term than in the short-term. A wise person once remarked, ‘Who controls the food supply controls the people; who controls the energy supply controls whole continents; who controls money controls the world’; who controls water sources controls life. Allowing for some hyperbole in this assessment, it did offer insight into the benefits for US international influence of the dollar’s status as the world’s major reserve currency.

As the dollar declined in value over the last decade, its share of allocated global reserves fell from 72 percent to 62 percent, suggesting that reserve managers were diversifying their holdings into other currencies. The main beneficiary of this trend was the euro. Standard& Poor’s ([S&P)] downgrading of America’s AAA+ credit rating in the wake of the political imbroglio between Republicans and Democrats over raising the debt limit appeared to spell further trouble for the dollar.

However, the greenback has become an increasingly safe haven for foreign currency holders in light of the Euro zone’s deepening financial crisis that threatens the very existence of the single currency project. Reports that foreign central banks and managers of large private funds were shedding Treasury securities in 2009-10 were also exaggerated. China, the largest holder, was shifting from long-term to short-term securities rather than moving out of the dollar. In 2011, however, there has been a general move back to long-term securities that carry higher interest. Signifying this, Bill Gross, chief executive of PIMCO (the world’s largest fund manager), which had previously begun shedding its long-term US bonds, announced in October that it was increasing its holdings in them.

Paradoxically, therefore, America’s reserve position has actually strengthened in the last two years despite its economic and fiscal problems. Its current account deficit – its external balance with the rest of the world – has also shrunk from a worrying 7 percent of GDP in 2006 to a more manageable 3.3 percent in mid-2011 because the fragile economy has reduced demand for imports. Moreover, its capacity to borrow from abroad remains undiminished because the US broadly remains a reliable haven, notwithstanding its S&P credit rating downgrade. Indeed the annual cost of its repayments on its rising public debt which itself grew from 40.3 percent of GDP in 2008 to an estimated 72 percent of GDP in 2011, actually declined from 1.8 percent of GDP to 1.4 percent of GDP over this same period thanks to low interest rates.

However, low interest rates will not last forever. The United States at some juncture will face increasing costs to service its debt. Moreover, unless it brings its borrowing under control, it may eventually find its only recourse is to have massive interest rates to overcome creditor fears about a possible default or a reversion to debt monetization (namely printing more money to cheapen the dollar and thereby ease interest payments). This is unlikely to happen until the late 2020s or early 2030s, but the impact on the economy will be severe if such monetary manipulation becomes necessary.

If the economic effects of America’s indebtedness are not yet great, there are signs that it has had an impact on its political influence within the international economy. In 2004, former Treasury Secretary Larry Sumner famously remarked, ‘There is something odd about the world’s greatest power also being its greatest debtor’. It is even odder that its biggest creditor is also its greatest economic challenger, the People’s Republic of China (PRC). Contrary to the usual assumption that economic power goes hand in hand with a strong currency, the PRC engaged in massive purchase of US Treasuries and other dollar assets in the first decade of this century to ensure that its currency had a low value against the dollar, thereby reaping huge advantages for its products in the giant US market. The Bush administration and the Obama administration have both sought to persuade Beijing to abandon this practice in order both to reduce America’s huge bilateral trade deficit with the PRC and to head off protectionist sentiment in the US Congress. However, lack of leverage has blunted America’s capacity to get the Chinese to do what it wants. (Of course, the US should beware what it wishes for in this regard, since the PRC would have little reason to extend it easy credit if there were no currency exchange benefits to be gained.)

Being America’s leading creditor gives the PRC a certain advantage in dealing with it. Beijing has been a very vocal critic of the Federal Reserve’s quantitative easing (QE) initiatives to improve the flow of credit at home. It worries that this action will ultimately cheapen the dollar, thereby undermining the value of its holdings. Some analysts believe that concern about China’s reaction is one reason why the Fed has not engaged in a third round of QE despite the evident fragility of the post-recession recovery. Others are fearful that the PRC might use its creditor influence to bring pressure to bear on the US in the event of a geopolitical showdown between the two countries, for example over sovereignty issues in the South China Sea. In their view, this could be America’s ‘Suez Moment’, a reference to Eisenhower’s use of economic advantage to force the withdrawal of the 1956 Anglo-French intervention in Egypt.

Undoubtedly being a debtor nation diminishes America’s standing in what can be called geo-economics. This is true with regard to allies as well as rivals like the PRC. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner found this out when he participated in a meeting of European financial leaders in Wroclaw, Poland, in September 2011 to discuss the Euro zone sovereign debt crisis that threatened to spread from Greece to other nations. His calls for stronger action by member nations of the single currency project to provide larger bailout funds as security against a Greek default, and for greater aid to European banks that were holding bad government debts, were dismissively rejected by a number of his EU counterparts. Austrian Finance Minister Maria Fekter commented, ‘I found it peculiar that even though the Americans have significantly worse fundamental data than the Euro zone, that they tell us what we should do’.

The world also watched on in horror at the showdown between the Tea-Party-influenced Republicans and the Democrats over the passage of a bill to raise the debt limit in mid-2011. The US narrowly avoided a default that could have had serious ripple effects throughout the global financial community. In effect, conservative Republicans resorted to political blackmail to force acceptance of large budgetary cuts as their price for a deal. Clearly, American legislators have every right to pursue the political aims they were elected to achieve, but it seemed that the whole world – not just the Obama administration – would have to bear the cost of their intransigence. The episode damaged America’s reputation as a reliable debt payer, leading directly to the S&P credit downgrade. The antics of what Britain’s Trade Secretary Vince cable dubbed ‘a bunch of right-wing extremists’ also exposed the US to international ridicule.

The debt limitation imbroglio showed that America is an increasingly polarized nation amidst today’s difficult economic circumstances. Internal divisions have not yet affected its capacity to act on the world stage, but they may do so in years to come if the economy does not recover its vigor. However American policymakers have failed to find the solution to restore growth, jobs (unemployment remains stubbornly high at around 9 percent of the work force), and optimism. The monetary instruments of economic management helped to end the recession in mid-2009 but have had little effect in strengthening recovery. Easing the supply of credit has done little to boost demand, which remains anemic. Having binged on credit card and loan finance for over a decade, consumers are now reining in their borrowing habits because job uncertainties (or actual joblessness) make them more circumspect about their capacity to repay debt. Meanwhile, American banks remain reluctant to lend to business because of concern that blowback from the European sovereign debt crisis might threaten their reserve position.

In current circumstances, the best way of kick-starting the economy is through expansionary fiscal measures that would actually create jobs or put money in people’s pockets – through initiatives like public works and infrastructure projects, extension of unemployment compensation beyond 2011 for workers who have exhausted their benefits, extension of payroll tax cuts into 2012, and more generous assistance to hard-pressed state governments who lack the federal capacity to borrow because of the balanced-budget requirements of their constitutions.

Such measures could form part of a second stimulus package since the first one, enacted early in the Obama administration, has come to the end of its three-year duration.

However, the political paralysis that has resulted from separate party control of government makes it highly unlikely that such an initiative will be enacted. The Republicans have no interest either in approving a statist solution for economic revitalization or in letting Obama claim the credit for economic recovery with an election looming. Conversely, the Obama administration and the congressional Democrats appear unwilling to engage in a political battle to force acceptance of their agenda. The likelihood is, therefore, that there will be no fiscal initiative to head off the threat of a double-dip recession and there will be no strong recovery in the short-term.

Without a strong economic recovery, America will also find it more difficult to resolve its fiscal problems. The depressed receipts that are the product of a weak economy – in FY 2011 tax revenues equated to less than 15 percent of GDP, well below their annual average of 19 percent between 1980 and 2005 – increase the difficulties of deficit control. In other words, fiscal actions to boost the economy may increase the deficit in the short-term but they will facilitate its eventual reduction. However, economic growth alone cannot get the budget under control. Most fiscal experts are in agreement that the United States will have to reform entitlement programs to control costs, find ways of enhancing revenue (which would likely have to include high taxes, particularly for the top 20 percent of the income distribution), and economize on other programs – including defense. Whether the political will exists for such a sweeping assault on public indebtedness is unclear. Such a course of action involves slaying two large sacred cows. The Republicans would have to swallow higher taxes and the Democrats would have to accept diminution of entitlement benefits.

Americans like to claim they are good at dealing with a crisis. Perhaps they are less effective when it comes to pre-empting one. The mushrooming debt is not yet a crisis but it will eventually generate one if left to fester. If America awaits a financial crisis before taking action, there is a danger that the scope of the course correction it would need to undertake might prove too great. The United States is slowly awakening to the reality that growing public indebtedness represents the greatest threat to its power and prosperity in the twenty-first century. It remains to be seen whether its political parties and the separate institutions of its government can work together for the long-term good of the nation. A Prime Minister famously observed that America could be relied on to do the right thing after it had tried everything else. It is to be hoped that there will be a timely demonstration of the truth of his remarks with regard to US public indebtedness.

Can any of LA’s Mayoral Candidates face the challenge!

Transformational LeadershipPeople will follow a person who inspires them.
A person with vision and passion can achieve great things.
The way to get things done is by infusing enthusiasm, motivation and energy.The styleWorking for a Transformational Leader can be a wonderful and uplifting experience. They put passion, determination and energy into everything. They care about you and want you and the project to succeed.Developing the visionTransformational Leadership starts with the development of a vision, a view of the future that will excite and convert potential followers. This vision may be developed by the leader, by the senior team or may emerge from a broad series of discussions. The important factor is the leader initiates it or buys into it, completely.Selling the vision
The next step, which in fact never stops, is to consistently sell the vision. This takes energy, determination and commitment, as few people will immediately buy into a radical vision, and some will join the goal much more slowly than others will. The Transformational Leader thus takes every opportunity and will use whatever works to convince and persuade others to climb on board the bandwagon.
In order to create followers, the Transformational Leader has to be very careful in creating trust, and their personal integrity is a critical part of the package that they are promoting. In effect, they are selling themselves as well as the vision.Finding the way forwardsIn parallel with the selling activity is seeking the way forward. Some Transformational Leaders know the way, and simply want others to follow them. Others do not have a ready strategy, but will happily lead the exploration of possible routes to the Promised Land and the ultimate success.
The path forwards may not be obvious and may not be outlined in details, but with a clear vision, the direction will always be known. Thus finding the way forward can be an ongoing process of course correction and the Transformational Leader will accept that there will be impediments and blind canyons along the way. As long as they feel progress is being made, they will be happy.Leading the chargeThe final stage is to remain transparent and up-front during the action. Transformational Leaders are always visible and will stand up to be counted rather than hide behind their subordinates and their staff. They show by their attitudes and actions how everyone else should behave (lead by example). They also make continued efforts to motivate and rally their followers, constantly doing the rounds, listening, soothing and promoting enthusiasm among their staff.
It is their unswerving commitment and determination as much as anything else that keeps people going, particularly through the darker times when some may question whether the vision can ever be achieved. If the people do not believe that they can succeed, then their efforts will diminish. The Transformational Leader seeks to inspire and motivate their followers with a high level of commitment and determination to the vision.
One of the methods the Transformational Leader uses to sustain motivation is in the use of complements, ceremonies, rituals and other cultural symbolism. Small changes get big hurrahs, pumping up their significance as indicators of real progress.
Overall, the leaders balance their attention between action that creates progress and the mental state of their followers. Perhaps more than other approaches, they are people-oriented, believe that success comes first, and last through deep determination and sustained commitment.Discussion
Whilst the Transformational Leader seeks overtly to transform the organization, there is also a tacit promise to followers that they also will be transformed in some way, perhaps to be more like this amazing leader. In some respects, then, the followers are the product of the transformation. When leadership and the organization is successful, everyone benefits.
Transformational Leaders are often charismatic, but are not as narcissistic as pure Charismatic Leaders, who succeed through a belief in themselves rather than a belief in others, they believe in a team effort.
One of the traps of Transformational Leadership is that passion and confidence can easily be mistaken for truth and reality. Whilst it is true that great things have been achieved through enthusiastic leadership, it is also true that many passionate people have led the charge right over the cliff and into a bottomless chasm. Just because someone believes, they are right; it does not mean they are right. They must have a realistic vision and have the perseverance and knowhow to stimulate harmony.
Paradoxically, the energy that gets people going can also cause them to give up. Transformational Leaders often have large amounts of enthusiasm, which, if relentlessly applied, can wear out their followers. The leaders must occasionally inspire and elevate the morale of their staff.
Transformational Leaders also tend to see the big picture, but not the details, where the problems often lurk. If they do not have people to take care of this level of information, then they are usually doomed to fail. The leaders must have staff to handle the details.
Finally, Transformational Leaders, by definition, seek to transform. When the organization does not need transforming and people are happy as they are, then such a leader will focus on how to improve the organization. Crisis time leaders (like our situation today in the city of Los Angeles), however, given the right situation they come into their own and can be personally responsible for saving entire organizations, companies or governmental agencies and cities.

Will Los Angeles get the Economic and Political Revolution that it so desperately needs? - Draiman

Only time will tell. What’s certain for now is that only when the machine and its masters no longer dictate and control L.A.’s fate can this diverse and dynamic region recover and resume its ascent toward greatness.

We as voters are getting exactly what we have reaped because we fail to elect any leaders that actually know whom we are, and what we think. Our salvation can only come from our votes, and we should vote the man, not the party! Vote for the person that has proven his way from a humble beginning, and succeeded...oh yeah!That's right! You won't find any such person because unless they sell out to a special interest group with money, fat chance they will be able to afford to compete in the arena of the privileged elite! Money actually buys our leaders even before they are elected!The current job down turn was badly handles from the beginning and the government’s response to the crisis has, in some instances, made matters worse.“Los Angeles government by the people for the people” Let us take back our city from the corrupt politicians.”

We can do it, if we all vote.

We can overcome the special interests vote and take back our city. We outnumber them by a least 8-2.

Remember, every vote counts, so do not let yours go to waste.

Not voting, is voting by default, it only doubles the influence of the ones who vote.